Kendrick Lamar Lights Fire Under Rap World

This is technically Big Sean’s song, but when you’re writing news about a sinking ship, do you write about the people drowning or the hero that saved them? The hero in this case is Kendrick Lamar who shows up in this Big Sean bonus track “Control HOF” premiered last night. Kendrick delivers something far more raw, inspired, and dynamic than either Big Sean or Jay Electronica on the track.

Kendrick Lamar’s 2012 album Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City is filled with all manners of fire from the Black Hippy member, but situated between G.O.O.D. Music members Big Sean and Jay Electronica, it just makes it stand out all the more.

Most notable, perhaps, is Kendrick Lamar’s tough love for his contemporaries. He has a litany of names that he calls out: “I’m usually homeboys with the same ni**as I’m rhyming with/ But this is hip-hop and them ni**as should know what time it is/ And that goes for Jermaine Cole, Big K.R.I.T., Wale, Pusha-T, Meek Mill, A$AP Rocky, Drake, Big Sean, Jay Electron’, Tyler, Mac Miller/ I got love for you all but I’m trying to murder you ni**as.”